There were days when the God was optimistic, and then there were days where he was not.

His heart still mourned for Hototo, although much of his grief had passed. The Earth God simply missed soft spoken son, his progeny who could sing the earth into being. It did his heart good to know that Kahlua had born a daughter, although the God had not gone to see her. He would not pass along his feelings of loss and want to a child who had nothing with which to bear those misplaced emotions. He would see her soon, but not yet.

Instead he would visit another child that he cared for. Midas.

The God had watched his golden-adorned chosen-one with concern. Midas' state of mind as of late seemed .. erratic, his duties and perceived responsibilities misplaced. The God wished to provide council, to pluck Midas from his wanderings and place him back on the correct path, but, like any good Father, knew when to interfere and when to simply allow their children to make their own mistakes. Still, the God had watched illusory tensions begin to rise within the Falls, their cause clear and yet seemingly ignored.

So much of everything which had happened could have been avoided. Alas, hubris was a flower that appeared beautiful only to its gardener. To the rest of the world it was a weed.

"I too often come to look at these trees."

The God's voice was a hollow rumble, as his body seemingly morphed out of one of the larger hunks of stone. "It is good, to remember them this way. Seeing their vibrancy persist through the leaves brings me joy."

The God's gentle gaze fell upon the small child at Midas' side, parting his lips in a smile. So Midas was a father yet again. The God's thoughts turned to his last visit to the Island before he destroyed it - to Ktulu and Cera's words. Yet here was Midas, with a new family. Slowly exhaling, the God continued to smile.

"What brings you here Midas? Is this an educational visit?" His voice was warm, and his eyes genuinely delighted as his mammoth skull lowered to look at the youngster. "Hello youngling." he whispered gently.

"Well said!" The God chuckled as young Zahra offered her name. His presence, while large, was warm and inviting. The God had never given children a reason to fear him, and never would. Their purity was one of the things that the God adored most about procreation. They were as open as flowers bending their faces to the sun, and just as receptive to the rains as to a watering can. He sighed, pulling his gaze from the young sprout slowly to regard Africa. "She is a wonderful creation." He complimented, smiling at what would certainly be a very proud mother.

Looking to Midas, the God's smile pulled back slightly as he listened to what the paint vocalized. If it was merely guidance surely the herd's storyteller would have sought him out, from the convenience of the herd land? This seemed like ... something more. Midas came to him now not only in his capacity as a son of the earth, but also a lead. The God nodded patiently. "Of course Midas. What is it you wish to ask of me?"

Of course the God had an inkling ... tensions had been mounting, though the God was unsure as to the cause. Well, in truth he knew precisely what the cause had been. Yet the whole thing seemed convoluted and bizarre to his mind. Midas had made strange decisions in the past, yet his actions towards the Basin had seemed unduly aggressive on more than one occasion. Still, the God did not interfere. He had given the Falls to Midas and those within its walls had flourished as the God has asked.

Rather perplexed the God listened. Midas, regardless of his faults, had always done what he had thought right. The God didn't believe the painted Czar to be vengeful or arrogant when it came to political motivations, and yet his actions lately had suggested otherwise. First there had been the disregard for the invitation sent by the Basin, and now this? Perhaps there was more that Midas was not telling him. Perhaps it would be revealed in time.

Nodding, the God acknowledged the recent attempts of the Basin to steal from the Falls. Such antics had been common place in Helovia for centuries.

"Midas.." The God rumbled, his voice paternal and kind. "I recall, many seasons ago, the Basin coming to you as leader of the Falls, to secure an alliance between your herd and theirs. It seems to me, that whatever herd led the charge against the Edge and the Throat all those seasons ago had disbanded, quietly, to be replaced with more moderate and reasonable members. The group who came to you sought peace. My brother tells me that after thinking about their request, you sent a representative north to decline their offer. Later, in good faith they invite the horned members of your herd to the Basin for a celebration, and you destroyed a second offering of peace that might have mended things between the two of you. " Shaking his head, the God sighed. "Is this personal, Midas? The Grey who inhabited the Foothills before had an alliance with the Basin - or at least a treaty. But you have declined peace on two occasions. You may keep your reasons to yourself, but it is perplexing that you would call me here to ask how to respond to them. You have made them your enemy and then worry about their increasing hostility."

The God was not angry, merely confused. He did not expect the Falls to be a peaceful herd if they did not think it was in their best interest. But right now, the God was concerned Midas was making decisions based on his emotions, and not the safety of his herd.

"Midas tell me - why have you come here? Do you come seeking my council, or my aid? Do you desire to fortify my lands?"

Frustration loomed just below the surface of the God's calm features as he listened. Regardless of the cause - or the ease with which tensions between the Falls and the Basin could be alleviated - Midas was right. The Falls did need a better system of defense. The God simply wishes his painted leader would have considered more altruistic means of attaining it. Sighing, he nodded. A movement that was almost conciliatory. Midas' mind seemed made.

"I can indeed help you with this, but it must be completed in stages as I'm sure you understand. There are about 20 or so entrances into the Falls. First we will barricade the entrances, save for one. Then, should you still wish it, plant life can be added. However this is not a task that you alone can complete, even though it is only you who has sought me out here. The entire herd who live in the Falls must aid in this venture, or nothing shall happen. Before we continue, do you agree to this Midas? Does your herd really desire to shut yourselves in, to hide away from the world and its troubles? When I placed you in charge of the Falls, I did so asking for you to care for its inhabitants. Is this how you would do that? By creating barriers to others?"

The God frowned as he spoke, but ultimately the decision was up to Midas. Still, it pained his heart. The God had not broken up the former Foothills into the lush lands of waterfalls and hills that it was now, simply to have every entrance way sealed up. An isolated eco system would wreak havoc upon the local plant life, but even more saddening was the idea that no one would ever be able to stumble into his lush creation ever again.

Still, this was the world Midas had created for himself. If this was what he chose, so be it.